Pony E-News: First day enrollment numbers trending well

Stillwater Area Public Schools sent this bulletin at 09/17/2017 04:05 PM CDT

September 17, 2017

Homecoming 2017: Home is where the Pony is!

Thousands of Ponies past, present and future came together to celebrate Homecoming 2017 in a big way last week.

Check out our Facebook page for more photos of the fun - from the powderpuff game to the first-ever homecoming carnival!

This year's homecoming activities were designed to bring our entire community together to celebrate what it means to be a Stillwater Pony. Thanks to all who participated!

Homecoming king from 1948 recrowned as senior royaltyMardy Wohlers and Barney Barnholdt, residents of Croixdale in Bayport, have been named 2017 Senior Homecoming Royalty.

For Barney, a 1949 graduate of Stillwater High School, it was like déjà vu nearly 70 years in the making. The star football, basketball and baseball player was first selected as homecoming king during his senior year of high school in 1948. Read more.

First day enrollment numbers trending well

The first day of school brought 8,328 students in grades K-12+ to the school district. This is a decline of just 73 students from October of last year, despite the incoming class of kindergarten students being 87 students smaller than last year's graduating class.

Elementary class sizes are also more balanced across the district this year, with no classes above or below the ideal class size range. This year's average elementary class size is 24.29.

Enrollment numbers typically fluctuate at the beginning of each year as students settle into their schools. Official enrollment numbers will be compiled in October, and a full report will be shared in November.

Hundreds gather to celebrate new learning spaces

Brookview Elementary SchoolNearly 300 students, families, neighbors and district officials gathered on Tuesday night to celebrate the grand opening of Brookview Elementary School - the district's first school in Woodbury. Read more and see a gallery of photos from the event.

Stillwater Area High School and Pony Activity CenterA large crowd gathered on Friday afternoon for the official ribbon cutting event at Stillwater Area High School and the Pony Activity Center (PAC). More than 127,000 square feet of new spaces have been added to the high school, which will provide new learning and recreation opportunities for students and community members alike.

Registration for membership at the PAC begins next week! Learn more online.

We asked. You answered.

In May, we asked our community what skills, attributes and experiences they believe our students need for success after high school. More than 1,700 people participated in Thoughtexchange, an online conversation that allows people to share their ideas and react to other people's ideas. View the responses.

Now we're taking all of that feedback and using it to help us develop the Portrait of a Graduate, which will be the foundation of our next strategic plan. Watch for more information about this process and additional opportunities for you to be involved.

Community comes together again to talk mental health

Our students and families have identified mental health as a major issue in our community. Please join us on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Oak Glen Golf Course and Banquet Center, 1599 McKusick Road N, Stillwater for the second Community Conversation on this topic.

Learn what the district, county and community is doing to support students' social and emotional well-being, and help develop new ideas and strategies to support our families. Learn more.

Students recognized for high marks on achievement tests

Four seniors named National Merit Semi-FinalistsFour of our students were named semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Joseph Hesse-Withbroe, Chelsea Lai, James Wagner and Andrew Weigel are among just 16,000 in the nation to earn the recognition, which is based on results from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Read more.

ACT scores are on the rise again in StillwaterStillwater students earned an average composite score of 23.3 on the ACT, compared to an average of 21.5 in Minnesota and 21 in the nation. Read more.

Official school board meeting notice

The school board has canceled its learning session scheduled for September 28 and instead will hold a business meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 28, 2017 at Stillwater City Hall, 2016 North 4th Street, Stillwater, MN. See official notice.